According to reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the No. 1 killer of adult Americans. Many biochemical markers tell health professionals your risk for developing heart disease. Homocysteine is an independent marker for heart disease, and you can lower homocysteine by following a protocol of folic acid, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12, according to Judith Lukaszuk, Ph.D., R.D., of Northern Illinois University.
About Homocysteine
Your body naturally creates homocysteine from the amino acid methionine. High homocysteine levels are indicative of poor intake of the vitamins folate, B-6 and B-12, according to Sareen Gropper's book "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism." When you consume them in sufficient amounts, these vitamins help convert homocysteine back to methionine, Gropper notes.
Homocysteine Levels
Your doctor can determine your homocysteine level with blood draws. A level of less than 12 millimoles per liter is considered normal, between 12 and 15 mmol/L is considered somewhat high and greater than 15 mmol/L is considered high, according to Lukaszuk. High levels can cause premature coronary artery disease, premature occlusive vascular disease, heart attack, and cerebral or peripheral vascular disease, Gropper says in his book.
Lowering Homocysteine
If you have a high or moderately high level of homocysteine, you should begin treatment with folic acid, B-6 and B-12, Lukaszuk advises. She recommends that individuals consume 1 to 2 mg of folic acid per day, 400 mcg of B-12 per day and 10 to 25 mg of B-6 per day.
Duration of Use
You should take the combination of folic acid, B-6 and B-12 every day for four to eight weeks as designated by your physician or registered dietitian. At the conclusion of this protocol, you will need an additional blood draw to determine your homocysteine levels. If you still have a high or moderately high level of homocysteine, the medical team may advise you to continue the vitamin therapy or introduce betaine into your daily consumption. Betaine has been shown to lower homocysteine levels as well, according to "Krause's Food and Nutrition Therapy."
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; February Is American Heart Month; January 2011
- "Krause's Food and Nutrition Therapy"; L. Kathleen Mahan; 2008
- Judith Lukaszuk, Ph.D., R.D.; Northern Illinois University; Dekalb, Illinois
- "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism"; Sareen Gropper; 2009
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